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Not possessing deadly venom like poisonous snakes, pythons possess a large size and extremely strong body constriction force, enough to kill an adult.
Pythons typically hunt by constricting their bodies around their prey and using their muscular strength to crush the bones and organs of their prey before consuming them.
There have been many recorded cases of pythons killing and eating humans. Here are the 5 most dangerous pythons in the world.
Burmese Python (Python molurus)
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Many species of python rely on their enormous size and weight to suffocate their prey. The Burmese python is one of them, which can grow to over 7 metres long and weigh 100 kilograms.
In the 1970s, these giant pythons became popular exotic pets in the US. But then, they grew so large that owners could no longer keep them, so they released them into the wild.
This has led to rapid proliferation of generations of pythons, which have harmed many native animals and become one of the most dangerous invasive species in the world.
North African python (Python sebae)
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The North African anaconda is a killer that once ruled over a large area of sub-Saharan Africa. It is the largest snake in Africa, reaching a maximum length of nearly 6 meters.
They easily adapt to disturbed habitats and are therefore commonly found around human habitation.
However, wildlife experts strongly discourage snake enthusiasts from keeping these giant creatures as pets.
That is because of their danger. North African pythons are considered to be predatory and very aggressive. Many times, tribal residents have cut open pythons’ bellies and taken human remains.
Trăn Nam Phi (Python natalensis)
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It is a southern relative of the Boa constrictor, known to be endemic to water-rich regions of most of Central Africa south of Ethiopia.
Reaching a size of up to 5 meters for adults, South African pythons often hunt antelope, warthogs and even crocodiles.
The indigenous people are also particularly wary of this species of python, as they can attack and kill humans.
Boa constrictor
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Boa constrictors can grow up to 4 metres long. They typically prey on birds, lizards and small mammals, but even humans would have a hard time wrestling these giants.
The powerful muscles of the South American python allow it to exert enormous pressure and its prey is usually killed within minutes.
This is also one of the most popular pet python species in the world.
Golden python (Eunectes notaeus)
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The golden anaconda (also known as the golden anaconda) is a large snake that lives in the Amazon River basin, South America. They are adapted to this environment as they can swim at speeds of up to 20 km/h and stay underwater for up to 20 minutes.
Golden pythons spend most of their time swimming along rivers in search of food. They are usually solitary and quite shy so they are rarely seen.
Measuring around 3.5 metres long when fully grown, these pythons typically hunt fish and turtles in the water. However, they can also come ashore to take down small deer and other mammals.
In captivity as pets or for research purposes, golden anacondas are considered to have unpredictable behavior and are potentially dangerous to humans.